Mortal Instruments series

I stumbled upon the Mortal Instruments series a few summers ago while looking for a good read. If a book is any good I typically tear through it like a dog with a rawhide bone, and I was in search of a series that would keep my interest. The first three books (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass) came together as a set for about $20, so I just bought that with the intention of purchasing the rest if the set was any good. I was a bit skeptical about the series at first because it's young adult and I feared it would be another Twilight, but the rave reviews on Amazon convinced me to at least give the books a shot.

So, were the books worth it? Excuse me while I climb on my rooftop to shout "YES!" Okay, dramatics aside, this was an awesome, well-written series that totally exceeded my expectations. Cassandra Clare is a master at setting the scene and I became completely immersed in the world of Shadowhunters, the Angel descendants tasked with killing demons and keeping Downworlders in line. Creating a substantial and believable world containing the likes of vampires and werewolves is no small feat, either, and I've read plenty of other series with supernatural characters that just felt, for lack of a better term, cheesy.

Another crucial aspect of a good story is the characters. If I don't like them or can't relate to a character on some level, it just ruins the whole story and the book ends up on a shelf collecting dust. I can honestly say that I genuinely liked and enjoyed all of the main characters in the Mortal Instruments series, which is really saying something. Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle, Alec - they're all interesting, compelling, and unique characters. Even though this series is set in the supernatural, the human sides of the characters make them relatable on so many levels. Clary is a short, awkward redhead still figuring out who she is, so she's an unlikely yet really relatable hero/lead character. We've all gone through that awkward stage, right? I don't want to spoil the storylines of the other characters, but to sum it up briefly they all go through sticky situations and feel more like friends than just characters.

Overall, I guess that's what I really love about this series; Clare creates such an awesome world and characters, and I felt like I was a part of the action. I laughed with and at the characters, related to their troubles, and found myself cheering for their successes (especially the Clary/Jace relationship, which is a whooole 'nother subject). I was pretty sad after I finished the series because it was so good, but really glad that I listened to the Amazon reviews and gave it a try. So, do the same! You won't regret it!